Monday, June 30, 2014

26/52..



a portrait of my children once a week, every week in 2014...


olive: pottering, always pottering..

james: an old soul beyond your years..

eddie: winter-fying the cubby..

harvey: world cup time and you are forever kicking that indoor soccer ball around the house..


Each week I come so close to not posting my portraits.  I'm desperate for a proper camera, I only have access to ours on a weekend, and by then, moments have happened and I don't want to force re-created ones..(sigh) patience is a virtue.

joining jodi for the 52 project..


Thursday, June 26, 2014

happy pants..


My lovely friend and Ocean Grove local Heather Gallagher is currently launching her new children's picture book 'Happy Pants'.

It's a story about post natal depression (PND) told through a child's eyes..

"When mummy wears her happy pants we build sandcastles, go for babycinos and have lots and lots of cuddles.  But when she comes home with baby Darcy, her happy pants stay in her wardrobe.."

It's a moving and heartfelt book that Heather hopes will help the one in seven Australian mothers who suffer from post-natal depression.  The book has been endorsed by PANDA and the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) and is designed to help explain the illness to children.

Heather suffered PND following the birth of both her daughters, now aged 9 and 12.  Ironically, the depression became a catalyst for her to act.  She founded a playgroup for mums with PND, Parents Overcoming Depression with Support (PODS), and went on to launch her career as a children's writer.

'With Happy Pants I wanted to let kids know that while they can't make mummy better, things will improve with time and love,' she said. 'There will come a day when Mum can put on her happy pants again!'

It's a beautiful story, and one I can relate to having suffered PND with my third baby.  The guilt you feel about your behaviour toward your older children is difficult to bare, this is a gentle way to help people feel that there is hope and they are not alone.

If you're lucky enough to live in Brisbane, you can meet Heather in person at Books@Stones shop 1/360 Logan Road, Stones Corner next Friday July 4th at 11:00am.  Go on, pop in and say hi!

Happy Pants is also available in all good bookstores now, or you can purchase it online here.










Monday, June 23, 2014

25/52..

a portrait of my children once a week, every week in 2014..

olive: tiny hands balancing tiny tea cups..


with just the girl this week, I'm joining jodi for the 52 project..


Monday, June 16, 2014

like wearing a hug..



 beanie for my Mr modelled by the middle, one for my gorgeous nephew, and a leftovers bonnet for olive

There's nothing quite as heart warming as making for the ones you love.  They only need to whisper a request and I'm on it like a flash!  I've been rummaging through my yarn stash, unravelling unfinished bits and pieces and putting them to good use, making beanies, bonnets and snuggly neckwarmers.  

We went for a walk to the playground on the weekend, it was freezing cold but the sun was shining, and watching my gang play and climb, sip coffee and hot chocolates wearing my winter woollens was like knowing they were wearing a great big hug..from me.


Sunday, June 15, 2014

24/52..




a portrait of my children once a week, every week in 2014...

olive: my little golden book baby..

james and eddie: warming up at the market on a cold winter morning..

harvey: patiently waiting, soon he won't want to come with us at all..




Sunday, June 8, 2014

23/52..

a portrait of my children once a week, every week in 2014..

olive: like a moth to a flame, you are drawn to my wardrobe..

harvey, james and eddie: toasting marshmallows, late nights with silly and serious conversation, the best part of our long weekend with beautiful friends..



Thursday, June 5, 2014

embracing winter and the homemaker within..


Until a few years ago winter was my most favourite season, I loved everything about it. But the last few winters have been a struggle for me, and I was really dreading its return this year. Then suddenly this week something happened, there was a shift of energies and I feel ready.  Ready to enjoy all of the good things that winter offers, all the things that I used to love about it.

This year I am going to embrace the winter months.  The cosiness, the rugging up, the hearty meals, red wine, hot chocolates, the sound of pouring rain on the tin roof, and I'm going to embrace the homemaker within.  It's a wonderful feeling.

I already know, that my best days, when I'm left feeling most satisfied, are the ones where I'm inspired to bake, to bring all the washing up to date, to have a casserole or soup or some other one-pot-wonder on the stove filling the house with its delicious aroma.  A day when I have pottered about, getting things in order, cleaning, having the place all cosy warm with a handmade snack ready for my boys after school, these are absolutely the days I love the most. Not all days are like this of course. The reality is, most days are a juggle of work, a toddler, school runs and commitments and getting by on the bare necessities.

I love the title 'homemaker'.  I love everything about it.  I'm sure this stems from my childhood, when both my mum and dad would work so hard, I'd often be the first one home with chores to tend to and little brothers to take care of. Then, on rare occasions, there were those days after school, after the long trek home from the bus stop, when I would walk in the door and smell fresh baked cakes, dinner cooking and mum sitting down to a cup of tea, those days were the most wonderful days of all!  That overwhelming feeling of comfort and security and true homeliness.

Nick and I made the choice early on for one of us to be the homemaker, and there were a lot of sacrifices in order to make it happen, but I'm so glad we did.  Now, choosing to start our business was largely driven by the ability for me to continue being home, to keep things running smoothly and be available to the kids whenever they need.  Fortunately, it also allows Nick to be home a lot more too, so often, we are able to share the homemaker role.

Now that winter is here, I can certainly feel the chill in the air, its been cold and wet and we've been restricted to indoors, but instead of feeling immediately defeated, I've felt inspired. I baked muffins, made hearty soups, ironed, vacuumed, washed and tidied. After picking up the boys from school and walking through the door to warmth and yummy smells, it took me back to those happy homely memories and I realised that this is how it has to be.  I need to change my mindset, embrace winter and my role as homemaker,  and enjoy all the cosy good things that winter brings.

{picture of the baby on a washing basket, slightly unrelated but cute!}

 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

a blanket for olive..


I'm terribly impatient.  I really wanted to use the big camera to get some nice shots of this completed project, but its out earning us a living and I can't wait any longer!  So excuse my iPhone pics.

This blanket right here, in all its gloriousness, was my #everydayinmay project and I can't even believe myself that I finished it inside a month.  I am so pleased with the way it turned out.  Initially, I was a bit concerned the shell stitch might have been too much on such a large scale, but no, its pretty fabulous.

My plan was to make a cot size baby blanket, but it seems I purchased too much wool and just had to use it all up anyway. It's probably more suited to a single bed, or the couch, or if this boy has anything to do with it, permanently wrapped around him!

As its quite a dense stitch, I used a larger hook, 7mm, to give it a bit more drape, which worked beautifully but I think I could have gone even larger, perhaps a 9mm or even 10mm.

The trouble with finishing a project you have thoroughly enjoyed working on, is that as much as you can't wait to see it complete, you don't want it to end, a bit like a good book. Fortunately, we have some new babies being born this year, so I plan to get busy on some more of these as gifts, I can't stop!


Sunday, June 1, 2014

22/52..

a portrait of my children, once a week every week in 2014...

james: my collector, he fills his pockets as he wanders and brings home love-heart beach rocks for me..

eddie: wrapping himself in olives blanket "it fits me perfectly!" looks like I'll be making more.. 

olive: "aahh lovelies" she sighs and tickles her soft skin as soon her shirt comes off.. 

harvey: he was presented the 'Principals Award' for 100% attendance, but lets not make a big deal of it..


joining jodi...